"Of course, Knight Javien. Do what you must," Duke Herold replied, struggling to maintain the remnants of an ego that was beginning to crack before the crowd.

However, just as Duke Herold was about to order the guards to bring Olivia inside, his eyes accidentally flickered toward the very back of the line of Javien’s black-armored knights.

There, a heavily guarded iron stretcher stood.

On the stretcher lay the body of the villainous hooded man who had tried to take Olivia’s life the night before, slumped over as if he had no bones left.

The man was in critical condition, his life hanging by a thread, his chest rising and falling in shallow, labored breaths.

His entire life force and soul had been nearly paralyzed after being drained by the impact of Javien’s dark demonic aura the night before. He had been brought back alive solely to serve as evidence for the investigation.

Duke Herold narrowed his eyes briefly as he looked at the villain.

Although Javien and Olivia did not yet know for certain who was behind the mastermind who hired the assassin, Duke Herold already knew.

The moment he saw the attack patterns and the use of black magic that night, Duke Herold’s mind immediately linked the crime directly to Delia.

Oh... it’s this one,

Duke Herold whispered in his heart with cold detachment.

Once he realized it was Delia’s doing, Duke Herold decided to stay out of it.

He had absolutely no intention of helping or covering for her. In Duke Herold’s eyes, if Delia was stupid enough to get caught by Javien, that was her own problem.

He would rather sit back and watch just how far Javien would go to destroy her.

Javien, noticing Duke Herold’s gaze, stood tall once again, intentionally giving a cold, mysterious look before stepping aside.

"Bring Olivia into the treatment chamber, now!" Duke Herold ordered urgently, his voice intentionally raised.

Celine and Lady Ophilia wasted no time in helping Olivia into the residence, leaving behind the vast plaza that was now filled with the increasingly complicated web of fate between them all.

The guards outside pulled the doors of the treatment chamber shut, instantly muffling the chaos from the plaza. The room was heavy with the fragrance of calming palace herbs and medicine.

As soon as Olivia was laid down on the soft bed, Lady Ophilia collapsed onto the edge of it. The young noble’s tears, which she had been holding back, finally flowed freely down her cheeks. She gripped Olivia’s uninjured right hand tightly.

"Olivia... forgive me. This is all my fault," Lady Ophilia cried, full of guilt.

"If only I hadn’t let you go alone at that time..."

Olivia felt a deep sense of guilt watching the scene. In the original novel, Lady Ophilia was a protagonist who was incredibly pure, kind-hearted, and always blamed herself whenever those around her were hurt.

"Lady Ophilia, please don’t say that," Olivia coaxed softly, trying to offer a smile even though her lips were pale.

"I’m safe, aren’t I? Look, I’m still breathing in front of you. Knight Javien arrived just in time."

"But this wound on your shoulder..." Celine interjected from the side of the bed, her eyes glassy as she helped cut away Olivia’s torn clothing to make it easier for the royal physician to apply medicine.

"There is so much blood, Olivia. That villain really wanted to take your life."

Olivia went quiet as the physician began to clean the stab wound on her left shoulder. The stinging pain made her forehead furrow, but her mind wasn’t focused on the physical pain at all.

Her mind was racing with two major thoughts:

First, the words of the mysterious creature in Javien’s room who said,

"The fate of destiny lies in your hands."

Second, Duke Herold’s expression in the plaza earlier.

As a reader of the original novel, Olivia knew exactly what kind of person Duke Herold was. However, being in the situation herself, his personality felt completely different from what was written.

The Duke’s ’couldn’t care less’ reaction proved one thing: the old man already knew who the mastermind behind the dark magic that night was.

Duke Herold knows it was Delia’s doing, that’s why he acted oblivious—he doesn’t want his name dragged through the mud if the scheme is exposed,

Olivia thought to herself. She bit her lip.

Delia... that woman really won’t stop until I’m dead.

While Olivia was busy lost in thought, the door to the treatment chamber was suddenly knocked on from the outside.

Knock! Knock!

The consistent, firm sound of the knocking made Lady Ophilia’s crying stop instantly. Celine walked over to the door and opened it slightly.

As the door opened, Javien’s sturdy, muscular frame stood in the doorway. He hadn’t taken off his armor yet, and his black cloak was still draped over Olivia like a blanket.

Javien’s pair of violet eyes glanced into the chamber, ignoring everyone else and focusing directly on Olivia’s face as she leaned against the pillows.

Seeing Javien standing there with his dominant elite knight aura, Olivia’s heart began to act up again it was pounding wildly!

Her ’fangirl’ feelings, which had briefly cooled down, flared up again as she remembered them cuddling tightly in the cave until dawn!

"Knight Javien," Lady Ophilia called out as she wiped the remnants of her tears, standing up to face her personal knight.

"How is the situation outside? Has the villain been taken to the dungeon?"

Javien bowed his head slightly as a sign of respect to Lady Ophilia.

"Yes, Lady Ophilia. My former troops have locked the villain in the high-security underground cell. The investigation will begin as soon as things settle down at the residence."

Although Javien was talking to Lady Ophilia, his violet eyes slowly shifted, staring straight into Olivia’s eyes.

There was a deep, meaningful gaze reflecting from Javien’s eyes, as if he were sending a secret signal that only the two of them understood.

Rest and don’t think about anything. Let me handle Delia and that old Duke for you,

the look implied.

Olivia, understanding the intent of that gaze, was stunned. She quickly pulled Javien’s black cloak, which was covering her body, up to her chin, trying to hide her face which was about to turn tomato-red from being so flustered!

Olivia’s sudden, drastic action of hiding half her face behind the large black cloak caught Celine’s attention.

Celine narrowed her eyes, looking back and forth between Olivia, who was blushing deeply, and Knight Javien, who still stood tall in the doorway with a stoic expression.

As a close friend, Celine knew something was off. But given the tense situation, she could only stay silent and keep her suspicions to herself.

"Knight Javien," Lady Ophilia spoke again, breaking the silence in the treatment chamber.

"Thank you so much for saving Olivia. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t arrived last night. You... you aren’t injured, right?"

"I am fine, Lady Ophilia. There is nothing to worry about," Javien replied curtly, his tone formal and flat as usual.

However, the knight’s violet eyes flickered toward the bed once more. More specifically, he stared at his black cloak, which was being gripped tightly by Olivia up to her nose.

A faint, barely visible smirk traced Javien’s lips as he watched the maid’s cute behavior.

Javien cleared his throat and adjusted his armor.

"Since the Physician has begun treating Olivia’s wounds... I think I should take my cloak back," Javien said nonchalantly, his tone casual but actually carrying an intent to tease.

Hearing Javien’s request, Olivia’s eyes widened behind the cloak fabric.

Oh no!

She had forgotten that the thick black cloak she had been using as a blanket since the night before was actually the property of the General of War standing in front of her!

"E-Eh? Ah, yes... I’m sorry, Knight Javien!"

Olivia froze for a moment. With her face still glowing red like a grilled shrimp, she quickly loosened her grip and tried to push the thick cloak off her body using her uninjured right hand.

Celine, who was at the bedside, took the cloak. Coincidentally, as Celine lifted it, the scent of Javien’s distinct, masculine perfume wafted through the treatment chamber, making Olivia want to sink into the mattress out of pure embarrassment!

Celine handed the cloak back to its owner. "Here is your cloak, Knight Javien. Thank you for lending it to Olivia last night."

"You’re welcome," Javien answered simply. He took his cloak, and with a swift, cool, and aesthetic sweep of his hand, he draped it back over his armored shoulders.

His appearance instantly shifted back to that of a sharp, dominant General of War!

Olivia, peeking out, choked on her own saliva internally.

My god... why is my favorite character getting sexier by the minute?! Someone give me a phone, I want to take a picture for my wallpaper!

her internal fangirl screamed.

"I will take my leave, Lady Ophilia. There are some military matters and security measures that I need to settle with the guards outside,"

Javien said while bowing his head in respect.

"Yes, please go, Knight Javien. Thank you once again," Lady Ophilia replied with a relieved smile.

Before Javien turned to shut the door, his violet eyes gave one last sharp, warning glare at Olivia. That look seemed to say,

Stay put on that bed, don’t you dare try to count ’invisible biscuits’ again.

Zap!

The door clicked shut.

Olivia immediately collapsed back onto the pillow, her face feeling scorching hot. Being caught muttering the name of those ’dawn biscuits’ was truly the darkest moment in her life as a reincarnated girl in this novel world.